Sheet piling apparatus



Aug. 5,1952 R. J. KOVATCH SHEET FILING APPARATUS riginal Filed July 16, 1949 Ilia/11101- -11 J- libaaiah.

Patented Aug. 5, 1952 SHEET PILING APPARATUS Robert Joseph Kovatch, Baltimore, Md., assignor to Bethlehem Steel Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application July 16, 1949, Serial No. 105,225. Divided and this application October 24, 1950, Serial No. 191,758

'7 Claims. (01. 2146) 1 2 My invention relates broadly to a machine for modified form of a pair of sheet balancers and automatically piling sheets to form stacks, and is more particularly adapted for use in the manufacture of tin plate, although it can be used for stacking sheets of other material equally as well where a similar purpose is desired, and this application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 105,225, filed July 16, 1949, for Sheet Balancer and Guide.

In the manufacture of tin plate after it is rolled and cut into sheets of sizes usually 20 x 28" they are passed through an electric cathodic cleaner. The uncoated sheets are then advanced therefrom by a pair of over-shot conveyors which drop the sheets onto a table which feed them in two rows into a tin pot and then to a catcher for receiving the coated sheets as they come from the tin pot, a cooling and washing table, a branner or polishing machine, and finally toa piler to form stacks of the tin plate.

In my invention the sheets of tin plate after they come outof the branner are fed by a conveyor to an inclined trough down which they slide by gravity onto a pair of sheet balancers which drop the sheets into the sheet piler box. The balancers drop the sheets flat and straight in the piler box so that one edge will not drop on the stack first, avoiding kinks, cobbles, bending or scratching the surfaces of sheets in the pile. An adjustable weight is provided for each balancer, so that any weight of sheet can be dropped onto the pile at the correct time.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a sheet balancer and guide that will receive a sheet as it leaves a conveyor or the like and guide the sheet to its proper position to pile the sheets in a sheet piler box and drop each sheet in such a manner so as to prevent scratching of the previously fed sheet due to the rough shear edge draggingv as the sheets fall.

A further object of my invention relates to the screw adjusting weighton each sheet balancer that can be adjusted to make the balancers trip at the right time for any weight of sheet.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will hereinafter appear.

Referring now to the accompanying one sheet of drawings which form a part of this specification and on which like characters of reference indicate like parts.

Figure 1 is a perspective View showing the manner of feeding the sheets to the tin plate piler box illustrating one form of sheet balancers I may use, and

Figure 2 illustrates the operation of a slightly guides for depositing a sheet on thepile of sheets in the tin plate piler box.

Referring now to the various characters of reference on the drawings the numeral l indicates the sheets of tin plate after they come out of the branner or polishing machine, and they are then fed by means of rollers 2 to an inclined trough 3, down which they slide by gravity onto the sheet balancers 4.

As indicated in Fig. 1 two spaced piling boxes 5 and 6 are shown of similar construction which are connected together by means of a plate structure as at I. The inclined trough 3 has a supporting base 8, which is pivoted to the plate structure 1 as at 9. The supporting base 8 has an are shaped arm 10 attached thereto and is provided with a set bolt II, which extends through an are shaped slot l2 in the plate structure 1 and provided with an adjustable hand wheel nut l3. As illustrated in Fig. 1 the sheet I isbeing discharged into the front piling box 5 to form a pile or stack I4. After the stack. [4 has been built up to the desired height the hand wheel nut I3 is unscrewed slightly and the back end of the inclined trough 3 is tilted downwardly manually to allowthe sheets I to be discharged into the rear piling box 6, the hand wheel nut I3 is then tightened to clamp the inclined trough 3 in this position. In this manner while the stack M in the forward piling box 5 is being removed the stack M in the rear piling box 6 is being formed, in this manner the trough 3 is readjusted after each stack I4 is formed and the operation is continuous.

The piling boxes 5 and 6 each have a base l5 and side plates l6 and I1, the latter of which is preferably hinged. The upper portions of the side plates 16 and I! are inclined outwardly as at 18 to form guides for the sheets I and are provided with journal bearings IQ for the axles 20 of the sheet balancers 4.

The pair of sheet balancers 4 are of substantially rectangular outline in top plan and are each formed of rod members, the outer rod 2| having a greater cross sectional area than the rod which forms the ends 22 and the inner rod member 23, these preferably being formed in one piece and the ends welded as at 24 to the outer rod 2|. The inner portions of the ends 22 are formed are shaped as at 25 to prevent, the advancing edges of the sheets I from engaging ,the same. Attached to one end of each sheet balancer 4 isa substantially U-shaped bracket arm 26 each having the end of one leg welded as threaded. counter weight 30.. which at 21 to one of ends 22 and the other leg welded as at 28 to the outer rod 2 I. The central portion of the U-shaped arm is formed straight and screw-threaded as at 29 to receive an adjustable 1s more securelyheld in position by means of nuts 3|.

Normally the counter weights 30 hold the ends 22 and the inner rods 23 in the raised position. with the outer rods 2| engaging the stops 32 which are secured to and extend upwardlyfrom. each of the inclined upper portions [8 of the side.

plates I6 and I1.

Each piling box 5 and 6" is provided with a swinging door 33 at the outer end having buffer plates 34 on the inner side-for*limiting thes-fora ward movement of the sheets when they-are-dis rcharged into the piling box. Each door is supported by a standard 35 in which is mounted a, swinging arm 36, the outer end having a threaded bolt..3l .mountedtherein and adapted ior adjust.-

. ment by meansofa hand wheel .nut .38 and alock trough and engages the inner rod member 23 of the two sheet balancers 4 and the weight of thesheetwill tilt the balancers,.and.the sheet willlbe, discharged. into the piling box as. indicated in. dotted lines in. Fig. .2'.

In .Fig. 2, I have illustrated a slightfmodiflcation inwhich the, threaded bracket arm ,42' for theadiustablecounter weight. and clamping nutAd isrshown substantially L-shaped. but the operationofthe balancers lare substantiallythe same as .that describedforliig. 1..

Aftergeach stack l leis .completedithedoor 3311s swung out of position anda truck havinga lower shielflike projection isadapted .to, .extend under thestackand, convey it; to. the, assorting.. room where they, are placedupon.WelLlighted tables for inspection,.,a1l of, which is ,wellknown in this art.

Although I, have. shown. and described, my invention in considerabledetaiLI donot wish to belimited to. theexact constructionshown and described, but .may use such substitutions, modifications or equivalentsthereof;as. are embraced :withinthecscope of my; invention or ,as. pointed out in.. the .claims.

Iiclaim:

1. A'sheet piling apparatus fortin plateronthe like, comprising a-, conveyor, for. receiving; the sheets; from a polishing. and cleaning machine fromwhich .theyare .dischargedin. sequenceonto aninclinedtroughfor .receiving the sheets. from the conveyor and,.feed..them.by gravity into-a pi1ing,. box,.outwardly inclined.guide-platesfor the sheets at the top of the .oppositesidewallspf the box, a. sheet balancer, journaled. in bearings attached-to-the, top oieach of the opposite side wallsof the piling box, said sheet balancers each having an, inner horizontally disposed rod adapted to-initiallysupportthe sheetsat the top of.-.the {piling box and to yield under the. weight ofthe, sheet and drop .thesheet, into the piling box.

2. Asheet piling-apparatus .for tinplate or the like,., comprising a conveyor for receiving the sheets. from the polishing and. cleaning. machine ifrom..,.which.theyare discharged .in sequence, an

inclined. trough. ,forreceivingnthe sheets from the conveyor and feed them into a piling box, outwardly inclined guide plates for the sheets at the top of the opposite side walls of the piling box formed integral therewith, a sheet balancer journaled in bearings attached to each of the inclined guide plates. forv the sheets. atthe opposite side walls of the piling box, said sheet balancers each having an inner horizontally disposed rod member adapted to engage and initially support the sheets at the top of the piling box and adapted toyield under the weight of the sheet and drop the sheet into the. piling box, and adjustable meanson each or the sheet balancers to allow sheetsoiidifierent weights to be dropped into the piling box at the correct time.

3. A-: sheet. piling. apparatus for tin plate or the -like, comprising a conveyor for receiving the sheets fromapolishing and cleaning machine from-which they are discharged in sequence, a pair of piling boxes disposed adjacent to the conveyor, a trough for receiving the. sheets from the conveyor, means for inclining the trough so that the sheets received thereon will slide either into one piling box or the other, outwardly inclining guide; plates for the sheets at thetop ofthe opposite side walls of each of the piling boxes, 2. sheet balancer having axles journaled' in bearings. attached to each of the inclined guide plates for the sheets at the op.- posite side walls of each of. the piling boxes, said sheet balancers each having an inner horizontally disposed rod member adapted to normally' engage and initially support the sheets at the top of the piling boxes and adapted to yield undertheweight'of the sheet and drop the sheets into the piling; boxes, and adjustable means on each of the, sheet balancers to allow sheets of different: weights tobe dropped into the piling box ,at the. correct time.

4. A piling apparatus, forsheet material, comprising a conveyor forreceiving: the sheetsfrom which they are discharged insequence, an inclined trough for receiving the sheets from the conveyor and. feed them into a piling box, outwardly inclined guide platesfor the sheetsat the top of the opposite side walls of the piling box formed integral therewith, a sheet balancer having. axle. extensions journaled in bearings attached to each of' the inclined guide plates for; the sheets. atthe opposite side wallsof the piling box, said sheet balancer having an outer horizontally disposed rod memberand an inner horizontally disposed member, end rod. members connecting the ends of: the inner. and outer horizontally disposed rods, said inner horizontally disposed rod. member of each sheet balancer adapted to engage and initially support the opposite sides of the sheet at the top of the piling'box and adapted to yield under the weight of the sheet" and, drop the sheet into the. piling box, adjustable means on each of the sheet balancers to allow sheets of different weights to be dropped into the piling box. at the'desired time and means for limiting" the movement of the sheet "balancers.

5. A piling apparatus for sheet material, comprising a conveyor for receivng the' sheetsv from which they are discharged in sequence, an inclined. trough for receiving. the sheets from the conveyor and feed them one at a time into a piling box, outwardly inclined guide plates for the sheets at the top. of vthe opposite sidewalls of the piling box formed integral. therewith, a pair of journal bearings attached to theouter surface of each outwardly inclined guide plates, a sheet balancer having an outer horizontally disposed rod member and an inner horizontally disposed member, end rod members connecting the ends of the inner and outer horizontally disposed rods, an axle extension extending from each of the end rod members journaled in the bearings mounted on the inclined guide plates, said inner horizontally disposed rod members of each sheet balancer adapted to engage and initially support the opposite sides of the sheet at the top of the piling box and adapted to yield under the weight of the sheet and drop the sheet into thepiling box, a threaded rod extension connected to one end of each sheet balancer, a weight having a threaded opening for engaging each threaded rod adapted to be adjusted to allow sheets of different weights to be dropped into the piling box at the desired time, and a stop for limiting the movement ofeach sheet balancer.

6. A piling apparatus for sheet material, comprising a conveyor for receiving the sheets from which they are discharged in sequence, an in clined trough for receiving the sheets from the conveyor and feed them by gravity in succession to a piling box, outwardly inclined guide plates for the sheets at the top of the opposite side horizontally disposed rods and an axle extension extending from each of the end rod members journaled in the bearings mounted on the inclined guide plates, said inner horizontally disposed rod members of each sheet balancer adapted to engage and initially support the opposite sides of the sheet at the top of the piling box and adapted to yield under the weight of the sheet and drop the sheet into the piling box.

'1. A sheet piling apparatus for tin plate or the like, comprising a conveyor for receiving the sheets from a polishing and cleaning machine from which they are discharged in sequence, a pair of piling boxes disposed adjacent to the conveyor, a trough mounted between the pair of piling boxes for receiving the sheets from the conveyor, means for inclining the trough so that the sheets received from the conveyor will slide either into one piling box or the other, outwardly inclined guide plates for the sheets at the top of the opposite side Walls of each of the piling boxes, a sheet balancer having axle extensions journaled in bearings attached to each of the inclined guide plates for the sheets at the opposite side walls of each of the piling boxes, said sheet balancers each having an inner horizontally disposed rod member adapted to normally engage and initially support the sheets at the top of the piling boxes and adapted to yield under the weight of the sheet and drop the sheets into the piling boxes, means for automatically returning the sheet balancers to their normal position after the sheet is dropped into the piilng box, and adjustable means on each of the sheet balancers to allow sheets of different weights to be dropped into the piling boxes at the desired time.

ROBERT JOSEPH KOVATCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,035,871 Gardner Aug. 20, 1912 1,565,840 Wise Dec. 15, 1925 2,333,479 Graf Nov. 2, 1943 

